Now you have learned what an accident or emergency is, and some of the main points about the procedures to follow, you must now learn how to pass on information to the emergency services.
There are three occasions when you may need to pass on information to the emergency services — they are when:
• you are calling for their help
• they arrive to give help
• they are investigating an accident or emergency
It is very important to give accurate information and pass it on quickly when calling for help and when the emergency services arrive to give you their help.
Emergency services are usually contacted by telephoning 999.
Often this emergency number is answered at a dispatch office and the person answering will ask you which service you require.
Listen carefully to what the person answering your call asks you – they are trained to talk with people in accident or emergency situations and get the right information to pass on to the emergency services.
The information you give when calling for help must include:
a) The type of help you require — fire, ambulance or police services
b) The type of problem you have — include the number of injured people or dangerous situation or both
c) The exact location of the incident
d) The best way for the emergency services to get to the area
e) Any problems they may find with getting to the place where you need the help
f) The current situation
g) The potential situation.
Remember — the operator answering your emergency call may ask you direct questions to get the right information from you.
You may have to repeat some of the information you have already given or give extra information like your name or telephone number.
Remember – when you give your message speak slowly and clearly. When the emergency services arrive they may ask you to tell them of
any changes in the situation.
Once you have called for help, you can get somebody to tell others in charge of the place where you are working. They should be able to give you extra help such as getting somebody to meet the emergency services and show them where they need to go.